HOUSE MEMORIAL 42

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN ANALYSIS TO EXPAND THE PRACTICE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, fire is an environmental driver and an essential component in most New Mexico ecosystems; and

     WHEREAS, prescribed fire is the use of fire applied under specific conditions with appropriate planning; and

     WHEREAS, prescribed fire allows the fire to be confined to a specific area to accomplish planned land management objectives; and

     WHEREAS, healthy and resilient lands managed with prescribed fire lower severe fire risk and help avoid loss of life, property and infrastructure and support water sources, wildlife habitat, ecotourism, jobs, economic development in rural communities and hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, uncharacteristically large and severe wildfires are affecting large land jurisdictions and putting New Mexico's watersheds, forests and wildlife habitat at high risk; and

     WHEREAS, wildfire knows no boundaries, and resilient federal, state and private watersheds and forests are essential for residents of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, prescribed fire is known by land managers to be effective at reducing fire behavior, as well as being cost- effective; and

     WHEREAS, many residents, scientists and stakeholders agree that the current level of prescribed fire use in New Mexico is insufficient to maintain or build upon restored landscapes; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to increase the use of prescribed fire as a management tool to improve the health and resilience of ecosystems, watersheds and agricultural lands to reduce the negative effects of high-severity wildfires; and

     WHEREAS, inherent prescribed fire risks are mitigated through training, practice, cross-boundary collaborations and education; and

     WHEREAS, knowledge and experience from diverse stakeholders are needed to recommend actions and policy changes that support the expanded use of prescribed fire statewide;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to convene a working group to study the expansion of prescribed fire in New Mexico, including issues relating to training, certification, permitting, negligence, smoke impacts and liability, and perform a review of how other states have addressed these issues in state law while increasing the use of prescribed fire; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be composed of representatives of the following: the forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the state fire marshal, the department of game and fish, the state land office, the department of environment, the New Mexico department of agriculture, the office of the state engineer, the office of superintendent of insurance, the New Mexico prescribed fire council, the New Mexico acequia association, agricultural and conservation groups, New Mexico state university and the New Mexico forest and watershed restoration institute; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be requested to report its findings and conclusions to the appropriate interim legislative committee by July 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the state fire marshal, the director of the department of game and fish, the commissioner of public lands, the secretary of environment, the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture, the state engineer, the superintendent of insurance, the chair of the New Mexico prescribed fire council, the executive director of the New Mexico acequia association, the president of New Mexico state university and the director of the New Mexico forest and watershed restoration institute.

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